I saw a picture of Asagba of Asaba and Governor Sheriff Oborevworii.
The governor, chest out, stood confident in his sparkling white native and red cap.Asagba, regaled in lavish royal vestiment, was smiling.
Oborevwori had every reason to wax happy. HRM Obi Profesor Epiphany Azinge ( SAN) had just rounded off the rare courtesy call with a proclamation: Asaba community would support Sheriff for a second term come 2027.
Asagba known for his erudition and frankness spoke the obvious.
His authoritative words bear the weight of Anioma time-honoured burden.
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Scene two. Chief James Ibori had just walked in, spotting his trademark charm.
Voting had ended several hours earlier in the 2003 governorship election.Tension was brewing in parts of Delta. Ibori unruffled, exchanged pleasantries with a huge crowd that was gathering slowly in his Ogharefe residence.
Then he announced in his brisk racy voice: “From the feelers I just got, we made it in Delta North”.
The crowd went jubilant with chants of “Odidigborigbo” ibori’s urhobo sobriquet.
Subsequently same day in a press interview he granted this writer, as a broadcast journalist then , ( there was no social media ) Ibori thankfully said he expected peaceful and victorious election in Delta North with assurances he got from the people and the positive outcome of the 1999 polls that heralded his first tenure.
In the chronology of Delta politics, Delta North Senatorial District popularly called Anioma has an awesome history of fidelity.
Among the three Senatorial districts of Delta North, Delta Central and Delta South, the loyalty of Anioma had been heart -warming. A unifying and stabilizing force in a volatile complex state.
If Delta South, predominantly Itsekiri ,Isoko and part of Urhobo gave a boost ,Delta North took the trophy of homogenous acclamation in all governorship battles.
While Delta Central, abode of the Urhobo ethnic nationality is presumably the headquarters of opposition in Delta gubernatorial experience, since 1999, Delta North ( Aniocha/ Oshimili, Ndokwa/ Ukwuani and Ika) reigns as the inimitable sanctuary of friendly winnings .
Timelines are the most reliable of registers.
The stiff opposition against Ibori’s governorship ambition in 1999 did not come from Delta North. Even with Ibusa- born Anioma man,Chief Austin Izagbo as running mate to Moses Kragha, the main challenger, Delta North trooped out for Ibori to send Kragha to political oblivion.
The extended antagonism against Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan’s gubernatorial bid, 2007 and beyond never emanated from Delta North. Chief Great Ogboru of DPP paired with Ukwuani politician,Chief Tilije Fidelis Okenmor as deputy governorship candidate to battle with Uduaghan,but Delta North said no to the duo. They backed Uduaghan to victory.
The conspiracy against Dr Ifeanyi Okowa ‘s governorship in 2014/2015 was fiercely resisted by Delta North. The people supported by other Deltans stood guard to elect the first Delta governor of Anioma origin.
Again, the anti – Sheriff Oborevwori plots that dominated the 2023 governorship election were not fired from Delta North. Out of his total winning votes of 360, 234, he got the highest votes of 160,453 from Anioma area.
Today, the backing and goodwill from Delta North in particular ,remain impregnable.
The people of the district pioneered his endorsement ahead of 2027 before it became an anthem.
Even in a deceptive national landscape where ” face powder ” solidarity thrives , the affirmation of Delta North is real ,coming from a people not given to ambivalence or political sabotage.
Asagba of Asaba ,a wise king understands the collective mood of his Anioma kindred, when he gave Oborevwori royal blessings of triumph in the journey ahead.
Asaba the capital territory exists as a peaceful and detribalized abode of all Deltans and Nigerians, typical of the accommodating character of Anioma land. The state capital desires continued urbanization and attention to the people as requested by the amiable Asagba.
In 2027 Anioma people would follow tradition: They would lead the cheers of Oborevwori’s return by divine grace.
Fair enough, the man is working, tending new grounds and touching lives across Delta.
For Anioma, the faithful bride of Delta politics, the collective appeal is favour towards greater development/ empowerment.
Nothing is too big to deploy in reward of the tried -and -tested people of Delta North, from a good governor who promised to do MORE
–NORBERT CHIAZOR
